Sulphurs and Light Cahills Provide Late Evening Action
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Recent Insect Activity
The peak of dry fly fishing season has arrived on our local rivers.
In late May, the sulphur and cahill hatches began in earnest on our local rivers.
These delicate mayfly species create the most active fishing of the season.
Hatching late in the evening - from approximately 7:30 - 9 p.m. - the sulphur and cahill nymphs begin to emerge much earlier in the day, providing nymphing action in the morning and afternoon and dry fly fishing from dusk til dark.
Spinner falls early in the morning are also common and can provide some excellent fishing.
The sulphurs are the smaller of the two species, typically 1/2 inch in length, while the cahills are larger, reaching 3/4 of an inch in size.
Other insects present at this time include: tan caddis, blue wing olives and isonychias.
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| The late spring trio of local mayflies. From Top: A sulphur, blue wing olive and light cahill on a Mianus Chapter cap. |
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| Sulphurs and cahills fill the night sky above a local river. |
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What to Use
Sulphur patterns in sizes 14-16 work best in the late evening, with larger cahill patterns in sizes 12-14 also proving effective.
Dead drifting these flies is just about the only way to go, as mayflies tend to sit serenely on the water's surface, drying their wings before taking off for the cover of nearby brush.
Also try parachute style flies replicating these insects, or emerger patterns which may prove more effective from 5 - 7 p.m. You'll know immediately once the fish have switched over to feeding on the surface, as the trout will often be seen leaping out of the water in a feeding frenzy.
If you get to the river and no insects are visible in the sky but you see the backs, dorsal fins and tails of trout breaking the surface, try an unweighted nymph.
An emerging caddis pattern or a pheasant tail nymph are your best bets as the trout have likely keyed in on the insects as they swim to the surface.
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| A parachute sulphur fly is a very effective pattern. |
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| Unweighted pheasant tail nymphs work as effective mayfly emerger patterns. |
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